What's Up with Sinusitis?

Millions of Americans are affected by sinusitis every year. Even so, it's often misdiagnosed and misunderstood by people with the condition.

Sinusitis affects the sinuses, which connect to the nasal passages. Sinusitis is inflammation in these sinuses. It can be caused by allergies, certain medicines, infection, or changes in the air or abnormalities in the sinuses themselves. Acute sinusitis is the most common form of this condition.

Because your nose can get stuffy when you have a cold (usually a viral infection), it's easy to confuse nasal congestion with rhinosinusitis. Acute rhinosinusitis is inflammation of both of the nasal passages and the sinuses. It lasts longer than a cold and causes some unique symptoms. It usually begins about 10 days after the start of a cold.

With sinusitis, you may have some or all of these symptoms:

Pain in the upper jaw and teeth

Headache when you wake up in the morning

Pain when your forehead or cheek is touched

Tenderness when the sides of your nose are touched, a loss of smell, and a stuffy nose

Earaches, neck pain, and deep aching at the top of your head

Fever

Weakness

A cough that may be more severe at night

Runny nose or nasal congestion

Sore throat

Get treatment

If you have sinusitis, your healthcare provider may prescribe decongestants, pain relievers, antibiotics, a steroid nasal spray, or a combination of these.

You should use decongestant nose drops and sprays, such as oxymetazoline for no more than 3 days. If you use these medicines for longer periods, they can lead to more congestion and swelling of your nasal passages.

Try prevention

Doing the following may help reduce the number and severity of attacks and possibly prevent acute sinusitis from becoming chronic:

Use a humidifier at night and drink plenty of water during the day. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and clean the humidifier as directed.

Don't smoke and avoid secondhand smoke and other air pollutants.

See your healthcare provider if you suspect your sinus inflammation may be related to dust, mold or pollen.

Avoid alcohol, which causes nasal and sinus membranes to swell.

If you get a cold, clean your sinuses with sterile saline to keep mucus liquid. If you don't know how to do this, ask your healthcare provider for instructions.